Shoe support for welt lasting machine

ABSTRACT

A welt shoe is pulled over and cement lasted by a technique in which the shoe bottom is supported on an expandable shoe support having a generally horseshoe-shaped periphery. The shoe is placed on the support while in its contracted configuration and the support is thereafter expanded generally, laterally to bear against the inside of the insole rib which extends downwardly from the shoe bottom. When in the contracted position, receptive to an unlasted shoe assembly, the shoe support facilitates insertion and placement of the shoe assembly in the machine. Both the method employed and a machine for effecting the method are disclosed.

United States Patent [191 [4 1. Dec. 10, 1974 Schindler et al.

[ SHOE SUPPORT FOR WELT LASTING MAHINE [73] Assignee: American Shoe Machinery [52] US. Cl 12/142 R, l2/10-.5, 12/123 [51] Int. Cl. A43d 21/00, A43d 3/00 [58] Field of Search l2/l1.3,-l23, 14.2, 10.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/19l9 Brock 12/14.2 11/1949 Miller 12/123 4/1968 Schindler et al. 12/1 1.3

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks [57] ABSTRACT A welt shoe is pulled over and cement lasted by a technique in which the shoe bottom is supported on an expandable shoe support having a generally horseshoe-shaped periphery. The shoe is placed on the support while in its contracted configuration and the support is thereafter expanded generally, laterally to bear against the inside of the insole rib which extends downwardly from the shoe bottom. When in the contracted position, receptive to an unlasted shoe assembly, the shoe support facilitates insertion and placement of the shoe assembly in the machine. Both the method employed and a machine for effecting the method are disclosed.

19 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTEU U53 1 0 4 SHEEI 10f 6 FIG. I

PATENTEU GEE I 0 I974 SHEET 30F 6 FIG. 6

FIG. 8

FIG. 7

PAIENTED M 3.852.841

saw u or a FIG. 9

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lower marginal portion of the shoe upper is wipedunder the marginal region of the insole and is secured thereto by an appropriate thermoplastic cement. This requires the use of a rigid member to back up the rib from its inner surface during the wiping and bonding steps. Typical of such rigid members is a plate on which the shoe sole is placed, the plate having a generally horseshoe shaped periphery and being contoured to fit within the region defined by and within the insole rib- .to provide the required backing support and reinforcement of the rib during the remainder of the process. This arrangement has a number of inherent difficulties. For example, when making welt shoes of various sizes and/or styles, the support member must be changed in order that it may properly reinforce and back up the inner surface of the rib. A further difficulty resides in the awkwardness of placing the shoe'properly in the machine which results from the necessarily close spacing of the shoe support with the surrounding shoe operating instrumentalities such as the pincer jaws, cement applicator and the like.

It is among the primary objects of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for supporting a shoe assembly which includes a last, an upper, and an insole on the last bottom in which the'insole has a welt rib secured thereto its bottom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION rounded by a cement applicator which also is of gener-' ally horseshoe shape and a plurality of pincer jaws are spaced about and surround the cement applicator. The parts are arranged so that when the shoe having the welt rib is placed properly in the machine, the region of the insole within the rib will rest on the support with the rib extending downwardly and about the support. While during positioning of the shoe assembly in the machine the adhesive applicator may be in a lowered, out-of-the-way position, the properly located shoe assembly will be in an attitude which, when the adhesive applicator is raised, will be disposed below the, peripheral margin of the insole and outwardly of the insole rib. The marginal portion of the upper extends outwardly beyond and over the cement applicator so that it may be inserted into and received by the pincer jaws.

The legs of the support are movable generally laterally toward and away from each other. A tension spring is connected across the legs to bias them in their contracted configuration in which the horseshoe shape defined by the periphery of the articulated support is substantially smaller particularly in a lateral direction, than the region defined by the insole rib. This provides a substantial clearance to facilitate placement of the insole over and about the support with the ribs surrounding the support. The increased clearance also enables the operator to position more effectively the entire shoe, including the upper margin, in relation to the pincers. In addition, the shoe support may be mounted for bodily movement between an idle position in which the heelward ends of the articulated arms are disposed upwardly so that the shoe support is in a downwardly and toewardly inclined attitude. The support is biased toward this idle position and is moved to a working position with the shoe assembly by manually urging the shoe assembly and the support downwardly in unison. The support is mounted so that when in its idle position it is located somewhat heelwardly of its working position which provides still further clearance for proper insertion of the shoe assembly into the machine.

After the shoe has been located properly on the support with its rib surrounding the shoe support, the shoe assembly is drawn heelwardly so that the bight of the support is in engagement with the toe end of the inner surface of the rib, the operator manipulates the shoe upper to insert its toe marginalportion into the toepincer. The toe pincer then is closed and the heel end of the shoe is then urged downwardly which simultaneously urges the shoe support to its working position and also enables the side portions of the upper margin to be inserted into the side pincers. As the support moves downwardly, its articulated legs are caused to move generally transversely and outwardly'toward and into engagement with the inner surfaces of the insole rib by means of a cam member mounted to the heelward end of each of the articulated legs which engages cam surfaces formed on that portion of the frame of the machine to which the shoe support is connected. The camming surface is arranged so that when the support is in its lowered working position the articulated legs of the support will have expanded generally laterally into engagement with the insole rib. The operator may then check the placement of the side portions of the upper margin in the side pincers which are then closed, after which time the pulling over and lasting operation is continued.

The degree to which the articulated legs of the, support may be expanded can be controlled by interchang-' ing camming surfaces of different sizes andshapes into the device.

Amongthe objects of the invention is to provide an improved shoe and rib support for cement welt lasting and pulling over machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method for placing and supporting a welt shoe assembly in a pulling and lasting machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the type described which may be used with a range of different shoe sizes without requiring a complete change of the rib support.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device and method of the type described in which the rib support is contracted during placement of the shoe in the machine and which thereafter is expandable to engage the insole rib after the shoe has been properly placed and oriented.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood more fully from the following further description thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation partly broken away, showing a typical pulling and lasting machine in which the invention may be employed;

showing with more particularity the shoe support of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged illustration, in plan, of the I shoe support in an idle position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the shoe support in a idle position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the mounting plate which carries the expandable portion of the shoe support, with the expandable portion removed;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the expandable shoe support as seen from its heelward end and with its articu-' lated legs partly expanded;

FIG. 8 is a 'side view, in section, of the articulated support member as seen along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevation similar to that of FIG. 5 and as seen along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the shoe supporting assembly as seen from the toe end thereof and in idle position as viewed from the line 10-10 of FIGS;

FIG. 11 is a somewhat diagrammaticillustration of the relative orientation of the shoe assembly when first placed on the support, as seen in side elevation;

FIG. 12 is a crosssectional illustration of the shoe and its support shown in FIG. 11 as seen along the. line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an illustration similar to FIG. 12 and showing the configuration of the shoe supporting assembly and shoe assembly after the heel end of the shoe has been rotated downwardly and the articulated legs of the shoe support have expanded generally laterally to support the inside of the rib;

FIG. l4is an illustration similar to FIG. 13 showing the configuration of the shoe assembly and machine parts after the pincers have been moved downwardly relative to the shoe assembly to stretch the upper about the last and preparatory to the wiping operation;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of the camming arrange ment for expanding the articulated legs of the support member as seen along the line 15-15 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 16 is an illustration similar to FIG. 15 showing a supplemental cam member in the manner in which it may be substituted to vary the extent of the expansion of the articulated support arms;

FIG. 17 is a sectional elevation of the rib and lasted upper margin; and

FIG. 18 shows, diagrammatically, the range of movement of the support between its idle, contracted and working, expanded position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 3 show, somewhat diagrammatically, a

pulling over and lasting machine of the type shown in I U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,592 in which the invention may be employed. However, it should be understood that the invention and its principles may be employed in other pulling over and lasting machines of the same general type. The machine includes a frame 10, a portion of which defines a table 12 which is inclined to the horizontal. Many of the various machine elements are mounted to and about the table 12 and move in directions which are generally parallel or perpendicular to the table. Thus, for ease of explanation, directions which parallel the table will be referred to as horizontal, forward or rearward and directions perpendicular to the table 12 will be referred to as vertical,"

FIGS. 2 and 3 show some of the shoe operating instrumentalities, including the shoe support of our invention, in more detail except that in FIG. 3 some of the side pincers have been removed for clarity. These instrumentalities include, generally, a shoe support mechanism 14, a cement applicator 16, a toe pincer18, a number of side pincers 20, a pair of wipers 22, a toe hold-down member 24 and a heel clamp 26 (see FIG. 1). While the precise sequence and manner of operation of various lasting machines of this type may vary from-one machine to another, the general operation is that the-shoe first is placed on the shoe assembly support and is oriented in a position in which the shoe upper is disposed evenly over and about. the last with the margins of the upper inserted into the open jaws of the pincers 18, 20. The pincers then typically are closed and are moved downwardly relative to the supported shoe assembly (or in some cases the shoe assembly is moved up relative to stationary pincers) to stretch the upper and draw it tightly about the last. At or about this time the cement applicator is operated to deposit molten thermoplastic adhesive along those regions of the insole and/or upper margin which are to be bonded. The wipers 22 which lie in and are movable in a horizontal plane which will enable the wipers to engage the pulled over margin of the upper and wiper inwardly and under the insole, then are advanced heelwardly and inwardly in a wiping stroke for that purpose. .Iust prior to the time that the'wipers advance inwardly in their wiping stroke the toe hold-down 26 is advanced into engagement with the vamp portion of the shoe assembly and the heel clamp 24 is moved toewardly to bear against the heel end of the shoe assembly. At sometime during the wiping action of the wipers, the-pincers 18, 20 release their grip on the upper to enable the margin to be fully wiped and be bonded to the underside of the shoe. In some machines, the shoe support mechanism 14 thereafter may be withdrawn downwardly from its shoe supporting position so that the lasted margin is pressed fully against the wipers 22 in an operation sometimes referred to as application of bedding pressure. The toe hold-down 26 may be urged downwardly under an increased force to increase the bedding pressure. After the bedding pressure has been held for a time sufficient to enable the adhesive to fully cure and harden the various instrumentalities return to their idle positions and the lasted shoe assembly is removed. I

As indicated above special considerations must be made when the shoe assembly is of the welt type in which a rib 28 extends downwardly from the insole 30 (FIGS. 11-14). In this regard the shoe assembly includes a last 32, insole 30 with rib 28 secured thereto and the upper 34 having a marginal portion 36. The rib 28 may be formed by any of a variety of well-known techniques and extends generally parallel to the edge of the insole 30 and is spaced inwardly from the edge to define an insole margin 38. The upper 34 is drawn tightly about the last and its marginal portion 36 then is wiped inwardly against the insole margin 38 and against the outwardly facing surface of the rib 28 which have been previously coated with an appropriate adhesive. Prior to wiping, the thermoplastic adhesive is deposited along the region of the insole margin 38 and rib 28 in an amount sufficient to enable the upper margin to be bonded to the insole margin and also at least partly to the rib 28. After the shoe assembly has been lasted, all but approximately one-sixteenth to oneeighth of an inch of the insole rib and upper portion bonded thereto are cut away along the line suggested at 39 in FIG. 17. The remaining downwardly extending portion of the rib and upper margin serve as an anchor to which the welt of the shoe may be sewn.

Among the considerations required in the manufacture of welt shoes is that during the wiping of the upper margin 36 to the insole margin 38 and the insole rib 28, the rib 28 should be retained in its generally downwardly extending configuration and requires a rigid backing member to bear against and support the inner surface of the rib. Typical prior techniques have been to employ a rigid plate having a generally horseshoe shaped peripheral contour dimensioned to fit closely within the region defined by the rib 28. As mentioned above, this presents difficulties in placement of the shoe assembly into the machine in that there usually is relatively small clearance between the periphery of the support plate and the pincers. In addition, the insole rib often tends to extend somewhat inwardly and in some instances almost lies flat against the bottom of the insole which increases the awkwardness in placing the shoe on the support with the insole rib extending about and surrounding the periphery of the support.

The improved shoe support of our invention is constructed to be movable between an expanded working configuration in which the horseshoe shaped periphery bears against the insole rib to support it during the lasting operation and an idle position'in which it is contracted to smaller lateral dimensions to facilitate insertion of the shoe into the machine. The range of movement of the support is suggested diagrammatically in FIG. 18 which shows the relative position of the expandable support in the idle and working positions. As shown more fully in FIGS. 2-10, the shoe support mechanism 14 includes the expandable support member 40 having a generally horseshoe-shaped peripheral configuratiomThe expandable support 40 iscarried by a mounting plate 42 which, in turn, is movably mounted to a support arm 44. The support arm 44, in turn, is pivoted at 48 to a threaded post 46 which carries a threaded collar 47. The height of the support mechanism in the machine may be varied by varying the location of the collar 47 along the post 46. The entire arm 44 and members carried thereby may be swung about the pivot 48 upwardly and away from the shoe operating instrumen'talities to provide access to those instrumentalities for maintenance or adjustment purposes. The collar 47 is supported by a vertically movable slide 50 which is guided by the vertically formed gibs 52 supported on the frame 10. The shoe supporting mechanism 14 may be moved downwardly from its normally operative location shown in H6. 3 by operation of a linkage 54 which may be actuated by any wellknown drive'means, for the purpose of lowering the shoe support mechanism after the wipers 22 have wiped the upper margin and to provide the bedding pressure referred to above.

When in an idle position, the mounting plate 42 is in a downwardly and toewardly inclined attitude as is the expandable support 40 which is carried on the mounting plate 42. The mounting plate 42 is biased in the inclined idle position, for example, by a plunger 56, slidable vertically with a bore 58 in the support arm 44 and which is biased upwardly against the underside of the mounting plate 42 by a compression spring 60. The mounting plate 42 is movable between the idle position and a working position in which it is substantially horizontal and is disposed slightly more toewardly. The movement of the mounting plate 42 between these positions is controlled by a pair of links 62 pivoted, at 64, to the opposite sides of the support arm 44. The links 62 extend generally toewardly from the pivot 64 and their other ends are pivoted, at 66, to a pair of depending lugs 68 secured to the underside of the mounting plate 42. The more forwardly disposed, toeward end of the mounting bracket 42 is connected to the toeward end of the support arm 44 by a pin and slot connection which includes a downwardly extending lug 70 at the underside of the mounting plate 42 which is movable within a longitudinal slot 72 defined between bifurcations 74 at the forward end of the support arm 44. The lugs 70 carries a transverse pin 76 which is received in forward-rearward slots 78 formed in the bifurcations 74. When the mounting plate 42 is urged downwardly from its idle to its working position, the link 62 causes the plate to move slightly toewardly with the pin 76 being moved toward the toeward end of the slots 78.

The support arm 44 may include a transverse groove 80 to receive the pin 66 when the mounting plate 42 is in the horizontal working position.

The expandable support 40 is carried by the mounting plate 42 for movement in unison therewith and is constructed toexpand laterally in relation to the.

mounting plate 42 as the mounting plate 42 is moved toward its working position. in addition, the expandable support 40 may be completely detached from the mounting plate 42 if desired.

in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the expandable support 40 is articulated and is formed from a pair of arms 82 pivoted to, each other at their toeward end by a pin 84. The pin extends vertically through overlapping portions of clevises 86, 88 of the arms 82. Thearms 82 also are provided at their toeward ends with cut-out portions defining a laterally extending slot 90 on either side of the pin 84 to facilitate mounting to the mounting plate 42 as described below.

The pin 84 may be surrounded by a bushing 92 disposed within the slot 90.

The arms 82 of the expandable support 40 define a generally horseshoe shaped arrangement, each arm having a peripheral wall 94 which is intended to bear against and support the inner surface of the insole rib 28 when in their working position. The peripheral walls 94 may be inclined slightly downwardly and inwardly. The upper surface 96 of each arm 82 which bears against and supports the insole within the rib 28 may be inclined downwardly and inwardly to form a somewhat dished configuration. Each of the arms 84 also includes a transverse slot 98 formed therethrough which facilitates mounting of the expandable support 40 on the mounting plate 42 and also permits the lateral expan sion of the articulated expandable support 40 in the manner described below.

The mounting plate 42 includes a pair of transversely extending wings 100 (see FIG. 6) which are received in the lateral slots 98 formed through the arms 82. The toeward end of the mounting plate 42 includes a bifurcated extension 102 which receives the pin 84 which pivotally joins the toeward ends of the arms 82 or the bushing 92. The bifurcations of the extension 102 are received on opposite sides of the bushing 92 and within the slots 90. This arrangement enables the arms 82 to be swung laterally from their contracted configuration such as shown in FIG. 4 to their expanded configuration. During such movement the arms 82 are guided and retained by engagement of the wings 100 of the mounting plate 42 with the transverse slots 98 in the arms 82. The arms 82 are biased toward each other in their contracted position, for example, by a tension spring 104 which may be connected to the heelward ends of the arms 82. In the embodiment shown, the ends of the spring 104 extend into slots 106 and are secured therein by pins 108. The inwardly limits of movement of the arms 82 may be limited by engagement of the side edges 110 of the mounting bracket 42 'with the inwardly facing surfaces 112 of the arms 82. Theentire expandable support 40 may be replaceably detached by simply spreading the heelward ends ofv the arms 82 so that the lateral ends of the wings 100 clear the inner surfaces of the arms 82 so that the pin 84 together with the support 40 can be manipulated toewardly out of engagement with the mounting plate 42.

As stated above the shoe assembly is placed on the support while the support is in the idle configuration as in FIGSQ4 and 5. The shoe assembly is placed with the rib 28 surrounding the arms 82 which are then in the contracted position. In this procedure the operator may conveniently locate the toe endof the rib somewhat beyond the bight of the expandable support 40 and then draw the entire shoe assembly heelwardly until the inner surface of the rib 28 engages the bight, or toe end, of the support 40 as suggested in FIG. 11. He then can position the toe end of the upper margin in the open toe pincer (FIG. 11) which is thereafter closed to grip the toe end of the upper margin after the operator is satisfied that the shoe is properly located. The heel end of the shoe then is urged downwardly to bring the shoe assembly to a horizontal position which urges the mounting bracket 42 and expandable shoe support 40 to their horizontal, and slightly more toeward, working positions. As the shoe support 40 advances downwardly to its working position it is caused to expand to move its arms 82 generally laterally outwardly as they pivot about the pin 84, thus bringing the horseshoe shaped peripheral walls 94 of the arms 82 into engagement with the inner surfaces of the insole rib 28. This generally lateral expansion of the arms 82 is caused, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, by means of a pair of camming members 114 secured to the heelward ends of the arms 82 and extending downwardly therefrom. The camming members have downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces 116 which are arranged, when the support 40 is in itsidle position, to be disposed above a portion of the support arm 44, there being a cam surface 118 formed at that portion of the support arm 44. The relative dimensions of the cam surface 118, the camming members 114 and surfaces 116 thereof and the separation of the camming members 114 when in an idle position are such that when the arms 82 are urged toward their horizontal working position the camming members 114 will separate laterally as they engage and ride downwardly along the camming surfaces 118. The parts are dimensioned so that when the camming members 114 are separated to their full extent, the peripheral walls 94 of the arms 82 will have expanded generally laterally to their working position in which they back up and bear against the inwardly facing surface of the rib 28. FIG. 15 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, the position of the camming members 114 and the cam surfaces 118 when in an idle position and when in an expanded position shown in phantom. Similarly, FIG. 13 shows, in transverse section, the configuration of the shoe assembly and support plate with the support plate 40 expanded into engagement with the inner surfaces of the rib 28 and with the pincer jaws in readiness to grip and pull the upper. FIG. 14 shows the upper after it has been pulled downwardly about the last. by the pincer jaws and with the wipers 22 in readiness to advance inwardly in a wiping stroke. Also shown in FIG. 14 is the cement applicator which has been advanced upwardly from its normally idle lowered position, to coat the rib and marginal portion of the insole with thermoplastic adhesive cement just before the wiping step takes place.

The device may be employed with a variety of shoe sizes which will require different degress of lateral expansion of the arms 82 depending on the size of the shoe. Larger shoe sizes will require greater lateral expansion by the arms than will smaller shoe sizes. .For this purpose, the width of the camming surface 118 may be varied by providing supplemental cam members 120 (FIG. 16) which can be placed over the cam surface portion 118 of the support arm 44. The supplemental cam may be of U-shaped cross-section as shown and has upwardly and inwardly extending camming surfaces 118. A number of such cams of varying overall width may be provided. and can be slipped easily into the receptive regions of the support arm 44 in accordance with the size of the shoe being manufactured.

Summarizing the technique employed and the operation of the device, the shoe assembly is presented to the machine with the expandable support 40 in its idle position, inclinded downwardly and toewardly, and being disposed slightly heelwardly of the working position to provide some additional clearance between the bight of the support 40 and the toe pincer 18. The shoe'assembly is placed with the toe end of the insole rib somewhat forward of the bight of the expandable support and is then drawn heelwardly until the toe end of the insole rib 28 catches on the bight of the support 40 as suggested in FIG. 11. Using this engagement of the toe of the rib with the bight of the expandable member 40 as a reference, the toe end of the margin is inserted into the open toe pincer and, after the operator has satisfied himself thatthe shoe assembly is in proper position, the toe pincer is then closed. At this time, the rib 28 is in engagement only with the bight of the support 40 and, as shown in the transverse section in FIG. 12, the heelward portions of the support 40 are in their contracted inward position spaced from the rib 28.-Also, the more heelward portions of the uppermargin are disposed above the side pincers which are open and are in readiness to receive the upper margin. The heel end of the shoe is then urged downwardly to urge the expandable support 40 and mounting plate 42 to their horizontal working position while simultaneously advancing them slightly toewardly toward the toe pincer. During this motion the arms 82 pivot about the pin 84 and expand generally laterally and outwardly into engagement with the inwardly facing surfaces of the rib 28 to back up and provide support for the rib during the subsequent wiping. In addition, if the rib was of the type which intended'to lie somewhat flat against the bottom of the insole, the expansion of the support member 40 will urge the rib to a more downwardly extending configuration. As described above this may be effected by employing camming members on the heelward ends of the arms which engage the camming surfaces formed on the support arm or other suitable portions of the machine. When the heel end of the shoe has been urged downwardly to its more horizontal working position, shown in FIG. 13, the arms 82 have expanded and the' side portions of the upper margin are positioned so that they may be gripped by the side pincers. After the operator has satisfied himself of the continued proper position of the shoe assembly, the side pincers are closed and both side and toe pincers are moved downwardly relative to the shoe to draw the upper tightly about the last. The toe hold-down pad then is brought to bear against the vamp of the shoe under a relatively light but firm pressure and the heel clamp .is moved horizontally toewardly to engage the heel end of the shoe. The cement applicator then is brought into position to deposit cement on the insole margin and outwardly facing surface of the rib 28. In this regard, the machine in which the invention is illustratively incorporated supports the cement applicator 16 as shown in H6. 3 by mounting it on a bracket 130 which is secured to and is movable in unison with the slide 52. FIGS. 3 and 13 show the lowered, idle position of the cement applicator 16. It may be moved from the lowered, idle position to an upper working position as suggested in FIG. 14 by means including a fluid operated cylinder 132 which is mounted to the end of the bracket 130, the cylinder 132 having a piston rod 134 which drives, vertically, a plate 136, the cement applicator 16 being secured to the plate 136 for movement therewith. FIG. 14 shows the working position of the cement applicator 16 from which it may be seen that the applicator will direct molten thermoplastic adhesive to the region to which the upper marginis'to be lasted. The applicator 16 then is withdrawn so that the wipers may advance inwardly and wipe the margin into the corner. region defined by the insole margin and rib 28. The pincer jaws are released in suitably timed relationship to the advancing wipers so that theywill not interfere with the wiping stroke. After the wipers have advanced fully inwardly the linkage 54 may be operatedto lower the entire shoe supporting mechanism to enable the pressure from the toe hold-down to be applied directly to the adhesively bonded portion of the shoe.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the invention is intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that other embodiments and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described the invention what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising:

a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby;

means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on the upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib;

means mounting said horseshoe shaped member for bodily movement from a remote position to said working position;

means maintaining said member in said contracted configuration when said member is in said remote position; and

means for effecting said expansion of said articulated portions of said member in response to said bodily movement of said member from said remote to said working position. I

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 furthercomprismg:

said idle position of said member disposed, at least in part, heelwardly of said working position.

3; A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprismg:

means biasing said support member in said idle position.

4. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising:

a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting 1 1 surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direcerally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising:

tion thereby to expand or contract the width of the 5 a member supported in said machine at said shoe horseshoe shape defined thereby; v supporting station to support said shoe assembly in means for moving said articulated portions of said relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, member between a contracted idle position 1n s id e ber having a peripheral wall of generally which Width defined y the horseshoe Shaped horseshoe shape'and an upper, insole-supporting thereof less than i fl 0f h l'lqfseshoe 10 surface, said member being of articulated construcp d fl by i a Worklngi tion in which at least the portions of said peripheral panded position in which the width of the horsen i d h l dl f id bi h may b shoe'shape defined y Peripheral Wall is panded or contracted in a generally lateral direc- ZSESZAtSZZtl 12:32:53; 2: 3.55 2222 212223 o orses oe s ape defined there y; zl g i i ggg gg zz means for moving said' articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle osition i tending down therefrom and surrounding the which the width defined by the-horsesiioe shapes ripheral wall of said Support the articulated thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe tions of said supportmay be expanded laterally and shaped defined by Said rib and a working outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may panded position in which the Width of the i pmvlde a backmg Support for send shoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is subzg rrlnumin said member for bod ve em stantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape froma remot Position to a working go i tion defi-ned by Said whereby when Saidshoe said member including a pair of legs having arcuate bly ls placed on sald Supp?" wlth the Insole re-Stmg Shard peripheries which define. Said horseshoe 22123253235 112555555513iiffifiul iig oi? SE1 of between said contracted and expanded positions; Hons of said Support. be expanfjed laterally and said generally, laterally movement of said legs being outwardly so that. the sldewzin portlons thereof. K responsive to movement bodily of said member toi and provide a backmg Support for sald mso e r1 ward Sald work-mg posmon by means compnsmg' means mounting said member for bodily movement means defining a cam surface on said machine in a a g s? g q a f Pf i d location thereof adjacent the heelward ends of said sax mem er emg p mm a 0 egs pwote legs; to each other at their toeward ends to enable the cam follower means mounted to said legs and in relalegs 2? pwot genirany iralnsversly toward and tion to said camming surfaces so that when said I away mm 9 egs bemg mounted by support member is moved bodily toward said work- 40 means compr 18mg ing position the cam followers carried thereby may a mountmg plate Supported m m a engage .said cam surfaces to cause said laterally exfirany heelwFrdw'mewarmy amtuder mount panSl-on of Said legs mg plate being mounted for saidmovement from 5. A machine as defined in claim 4 further compris- Sald remoie to 52nd workmg Posltlonsi and ing: I said legs being mounted to said mounting plate for means for varying the configuration of said cam sur- Said bodily movemem unison l mounting faces thereby to control the. degree of expansion of Plate and for f later'auy expandmg and contract said |egS mg movement in' relation thereto; 6. A machine as defined in claim 1 further compris- Sald member bemg moqmed to said pp Piate y means further comprising: 7

said member being formed from a pair of legspivoted i molfmmg plate h g lateral Wings e ng in to each other at their toeward ends to enable the PP f i dlrectlQns therefrom said Wings legs to pivot generany transversely toward d being received in lateral slots formed in the legs of away from each other, said legs being mounted by Said member, said toeward end of 881d mountmg means comprising: I plate being bifurcated to receive said pivot point of a mounting plate supported in said machine in a gen- 581d g erally heelwardly-toewardly attitude, said mount- A machme as defined Cialm 7 further C p ing plate being mounted for said movement from 8 I said remote to said working positions; and means biasing said legs transversely and inwardly toward each other.

9. A machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said biasing means, said transverse wings of said mounting plate and said transverse slots formed through said legs are dimensioned to enable said legs to be spread apart laterally beyond the ends of said wings and to enable said support member to be detached from said mounting plate.

said legs being mounted to said mounting plate for said bodily movement in unison with said mounting plate and for said laterally expanding and contracting movement in relation thereto.

7. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in gen- MB. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said means responsive to said movement of said support member from said idle to said working position for causing said transverse expansive movement of said legs comprises:

said machine including a downwardly divergent cam surface supported below the heelward ends of said legs; and v cam follower means mounted to and supported from the heelward ends of said legs, said cam surfaces being disposed along the path of movement of said cam followers as said support member moves from its idle to said working position thereof to actuate and spread said leg.

11. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said mounting plate is mounted to a support arm secured to the frame of said machine and further comprising:

said cam surface being disposed on said arm heelwardly of said plate; and

means for changing the configuration of said cam surface to vary the degree to which said legs may bespread.

12. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for varying said cam surface configuration comprises: v

at least one additional cam of different lateral dimensions, said additional cam being attachable to said support arm about said first mentioned camming surfaces.

.13. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said member for movement between said idle and said working positions comprises:

a mounting plate supported in said machine for movement between said idle and working positions, said support member being carried by said mounting plate for movement in unison therewith and for said expanding and contracting generally lateral movement with respect to said mounting plate.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13 wherein said mounting plate is in a generally horizontal attitude when in said working position and is inclined downwardly and toewardly when in said idle position, at least the toe end of said plate and said expandable support member carried thereby being located more heelwardly in said idle position than when in said working position.

15. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horsesho shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising:

a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby;

means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe 5 shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on the upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib; means mounting said member for bodily movement from a remote position to a working position;

said means for mounting said member for movement between said idle and said working positions, comprising a mounting plate supported in said machine for movement between said idle and working positions, said support member being carried by said mounting plate for movement in unison therewith and for said exexpanding and contracting generally lateral movement with respect to said mounting plate;

said mounting plate being in a generally horizontal attitude within said working position and being inclined downwardly and toewardly when in said idle position, at least the toe end of said plate and said expandable support member carried thereby being located more heelwardly in said idle position than when in said working position;

said mounting plate being mounted to said frame by means comprising linkage means pivoted at one end to said frame and extending upwardly and toewardly therefrom said linkage means being pivoted at the otherend thereof to said plate between the heel and toe ends of said plate, the toe ends of said plate being slidably connected to said frame for movement in a generally horizontal heelward and toeward direction; and

means biasing the midportion of said plate upwardly toward said idle position in which said plate and member carried thereby are inclined downwardly and toewardly, with the toe end thereof being disposed more heelwardly than when in the horizontal position.

16. A method of supporting a shoe assembly having an upper, an insole and a welt attaching rib extending downwardly from the insole, in preparation for a pulling over and lasting operation comprising:

placing the insole of said shoe assembly over a horseshoe shaped, laterally expandable support while said support is in a contracted configuration and with the insole rib surrounding the support and 6o spaced therefrom;

gripping the margin of the shoe upper at the toe end thereof; thereafter expanding said support laterally so that its peripheral surfaces bear against the inwardly facing surface of the rib. .17. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

after said step of gripping the margin of the shoe upper at the toe end thereof, urging the heel end of the shoe downwardly to a more horizontal position and concomitantly aligning the sides of the upper margin with side pincer jaws while expanding said support member.

ing:

16 18. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprisadvancing said expandable support from a heelward remote position to a more toeward working position simultaneously with said step of expanding said support member.

19. A method as defined in claim 17 further comprising:

advancing said expandable support from a heelward remote position to a more toeward working position simultaneously with said step of expanding said support member. 

1. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising: a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insolesupporting surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby; means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on the upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib; means mounting said horseshoe shaped member for bodily movement from a remote position to said working position; means maintaining said member in said contracted configuration when said member is in said remote position; and means for effecting said expansion of said articulated portions of said member in response to said bodily movement of said member from said remote to said working position.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said idle position of said member disposed, at least in part, heelwardly of said working position.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means biasing said support member in said idle position.
 4. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising: a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby; means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on tHe upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib; means mounting said member for bodily movement from a remote position to a working position; said member including a pair of legs having arcuate shaped peripheries which define said horseshoe shaped configuration, said legs being movable generally, laterally toward and away from each other between said contracted and expanded positions; said generally, laterally movement of said legs being responsive to movement bodily of said member toward said working position by means comprising: means defining a cam surface on said machine in a location thereof adjacent the heelward ends of said legs; and cam follower means mounted to said legs and in relation to said camming surfaces so that when said support member is moved bodily toward said working position the cam followers carried thereby may engage said cam surfaces to cause said laterally expansion of said legs.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 4 further comprising: means for varying the configuration of said cam surfaces thereby to control the degree of expansion of said legs.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said member being formed from a pair of legs pivoted to each other at their toeward ends to enable the legs to pivot generally transversely toward and away from each other, said legs being mounted by means comprising: a mounting plate supported in said machine in a generally heelwardly-toewardly attitude, said mounting plate being mounted for said movement from said remote to said working positions; and said legs being mounted to said mounting plate for said bodily movement in unison with said mounting plate and for said laterally expanding and contracting movement in relation thereto.
 7. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horseshoe shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising: a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting surface, said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby; means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on the upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib; means mounting said member for bodily movement from a remote position to a working position; said member being formed from a pair of legs pivoted to each other at their toeward ends to enable the legs to pivot generally transverselY toward and away from each other, said legs being mounted by means comprising: a mounting plate supported in said machine in a generally heelwardly-toewardly attitude, said mounting plate being mounted for said movement from said remote to said working positions; and said legs being mounted to said mounting plate for said bodily movement in unison with said mounting plate and for said laterally expanding and contracting movement in relation thereto; said member being mounted to said support plate by means further comprising: said mounting plate having lateral wings extending in opposite lateral directions therefrom said wings being received in lateral slots formed in the legs of said member, said toeward end of said mounting plate being bifurcated to receive said pivot point of said legs.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 7 further comprising: means biasing said legs transversely and inwardly toward each other.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said biasing means, said transverse wings of said mounting plate and said transverse slots formed through said legs are dimensioned to enable said legs to be spread apart laterally beyond the ends of said wings and to enable said support member to be detached from said mounting plate.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said means responsive to said movement of said support member from said idle to said working position for causing said transverse expansive movement of said legs comprises: said machine including a downwardly divergent cam surface supported below the heelward ends of said legs; and cam follower means mounted to and supported from the heelward ends of said legs, said cam surfaces being disposed along the path of movement of said cam followers as said support member moves from its idle to said working position thereof to actuate and spread said leg.
 11. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said mounting plate is mounted to a support arm secured to the frame of said machine and further comprising: said cam surface being disposed on said arm heelwardly of said plate; and means for changing the configuration of said cam surface to vary the degree to which said legs may be spread.
 12. A machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for varying said cam surface configuration comprises: at least one additional cam of different lateral dimensions, said additional cam being attachable to said support arm about said first mentioned camming surfaces.
 13. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said member for movement between said idle and said working positions comprises: a mounting plate supported in said machine for movement between said idle and working positions, said support member being carried by said mounting plate for movement in unison therewith and for said expanding and contracting generally lateral movement with respect to said mounting plate.
 14. A machine as defined in claim 13 wherein said mounting plate is in a generally horizontal attitude when in said working position and is inclined downwardly and toewardly when in said idle position, at least the toe end of said plate and said expandable support member carried thereby being located more heelwardly in said idle position than when in said working position.
 15. In a machine for pulling over and lasting a welt shoe assembly including a last, an insole at the bottom of the last and an upper draped about the last, the insole having a rib secured to the bottom thereto in generally horsesho shaped configuration, said machine including a plurality of shoe operating instrumentalities disposed therein about a shoe supporting station, an improved shoe and rib support comprising: a member supported in said machine at said shoe supporting station to support said shoe assembly in relation to said shoe operating instrumentalities, said member having a peripheral wall of generally horseshoe shape and an upper, insole-supporting surface, Said member being of articulated construction in which at least the portions of said peripheral wall disposed heelwardly of said bight may be expanded or contracted in a generally lateral direction thereby to expand or contract the width of the horseshoe shape defined thereby; means for moving said articulated portions of said member between a contracted idle position in which the width defined by the horseshoe shaped thereof is less than the width of the horseshoe shaped defined by said rib and a working, expanded position in which the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said peripheral wall is substantially equal to the width of the horseshoe shape defined by said rib whereby when said shoe assembly is placed on said support with the insole resting on the upper surface of said support and the rib extending down therefrom and surrounding the peripheral wall of said support, the articulated portions of said support may be expanded laterally and outwardly so that the sidewall portions thereof may engage and provide a backing support for said insole rib; means mounting said member for bodily movement from a remote position to a working position; said means for mounting said member for movement between said idle and said working positions comprising a mounting plate supported in said machine for movement between said idle and working positions, said support member being carried by said mounting plate for movement in unison therewith and for said exexpanding and contracting generally lateral movement with respect to said mounting plate; said mounting plate being in a generally horizontal attitude within said working position and being inclined downwardly and toewardly when in said idle position, at least the toe end of said plate and said expandable support member carried thereby being located more heelwardly in said idle position than when in said working position; said mounting plate being mounted to said frame by means comprising linkage means pivoted at one end to said frame and extending upwardly and toewardly therefrom said linkage means being pivoted at the otherend thereof to said plate between the heel and toe ends of said plate, the toe ends of said plate being slidably connected to said frame for movement in a generally horizontal heelward and toeward direction; and means biasing the midportion of said plate upwardly toward said idle position in which said plate and member carried thereby are inclined downwardly and toewardly, with the toe end thereof being disposed more heelwardly than when in the horizontal position.
 16. A method of supporting a shoe assembly having an upper, an insole and a welt attaching rib extending downwardly from the insole, in preparation for a pulling over and lasting operation comprising: placing the insole of said shoe assembly over a horseshoe shaped, laterally expandable support while said support is in a contracted configuration and with the insole rib surrounding the support and spaced therefrom; gripping the margin of the shoe upper at the toe end thereof; thereafter expanding said support laterally so that its peripheral surfaces bear against the inwardly facing surface of the rib.
 17. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising: placing said shoe on said expandable support with said shoe in a donwardly and toewardly inclined attitude; prior to said step of gripping the toe portion of the upper margin, drawing said shoe heelwardly to engage the toe of said support with the inner surface of the toe region of the rib; and after said step of gripping the margin of the shoe upper at the toe end thereof, urging the heel end of the shoe downwardly to a more horizontal position and concomitantly aligning the sides of the upper margin with side pincer jaws while expanding said support member.
 18. A method as defined in claim 16 further comprising: advancing said expandable support from a heelward remote position to a more toeward working position simultaneously witH said step of expanding said support member.
 19. A method as defined in claim 17 further comprising: advancing said expandable support from a heelward remote position to a more toeward working position simultaneously with said step of expanding said support member. 